The President of Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams, has said this afternoon he believes that insufficient progress has been made on policing.
As a result, Mr Adams admits he is not keen to allow his party to sign up to the proposed new service.
Speaking this afternoon, he said: "Anyone who is concerned about a new beginning to policing has to see how the British Government's legislation measures up against the Patten Commission's report.
"I can see no basis in which either the Catholic hierarchy or the SDLP can at this point agree to, or accept, the type of policing proposals offered by the British Government."
With SDLP deputy leader Seamus Mallon cutting short an investment trip to Europe, speculation has increased that a deal is about to break.
However, a party source has said that there is still a long road to travel before an agreement is reached.